Monthly Archives: February 2015

éirígí condemns the arrest of another four people, including a fourteen year old child, this morning in relation to a legitimate anti-Water Tax protest in Jobstown last year. With twelve arrests over the last three days it is now clear that the state is attempting to criminalise the largest mass movements of recent decades.

Attempts to criminalise legitimate political struggle have a long history in Ireland. For centuries those attempts have failed and they will fail again on this occasion. We extend our solidarity to all of those who have been arrested over recent days and repeat our call for the closure of all criminal investigations into the Joan Burton protest.

Cathaoirleach éirígí Brian Leeson has slammed the arrest of his party colleague, Scott Masterson, and a number of others on charges of ‘false imprisonment’ of Joan Burton.

Detailing the nature of Masterson’s arrest Leeson said, “At around 7am this morning up to a dozen Gardaí in five vehicles arrived at Scott Masterson’s home. Scott was the only adult in the house getting his two young daughters ready for primary school and pre-school. When Scott’s partner returned to the house, having earlier gone to work, there were eight Gardaí in the house along with Scott and the two children. Scott was then arrested and made to stand in handcuffs on a public road for a number of minutes before being transported to Tallaght Garda barracks.”

Below are the 20 most hit-on pieces on the blog. The top two – on women’s rights and the national struggle 1916-1922 and the aftermath of the 1972 British Army’s Bloody Sunday massacre – both have almost 3,500 hits.

As the new Bourgeois Sinn Fein tries to wrap 1916 around itself, socialist-republicans urgently need a co-operative strategy

The bould Shinners have certainly stolen a march, a big one, on both Fianna Fail and the government by announcing their 100th anniversary celebrations of the Rising. And that these celebrations are open to all. In other words, they are effectively acting as if they are the government and the state and the inheritors of the mantle of 1916, all rolled into one.

Their programme begins early – it starts this August by marking the 1915 funeral of Fenian O’Donovan Rossa, one of the events that showed the size and power of the Irish Volunteers (the Citizen Army also took part). And, of course, it was at Rossa’s funeral where Pearse gave his famous graveside oration, culminating with the words “Ireland unfree will never be at peace.”

An exhibition on the Rising, Revolution 1916 Eiri Amach, will run for no less than 33 weeks at the Ambassador Hotel at the top of O’Connell Street. International Women’s Day, March 8, will be dedicated to the role of women in the Rising and the dual fight for the rights of Ireland and of women. (Ironic, considering the Shinners tawdry shilly-shallying on the very basic right of women to access abortion.)

A visual spectacular is planned for the GPO, running the actual 100th anniversary of the dates of the Rising – April 24-29. A 3D video will tell the story of the rebellion, with the GPO itself even appearing to come under shell fire and be engulfed with flames, as it was in 1916.

A number of other events, including a reconstruction of the Citizen Army marching from Liberty Hall to St Stephen’s Green, and events marking the Irish diaspora, are also planned.

Another way in which the wily Shinners have stolen a march on both the Soldiers of Destiny and the government is getting descendants of the 1916 leaders on Read the rest of this entry →

The ‘Censored’ public lecture series has returned to the National Print Museum/Músaem Náisiúnta Cló. It actually began on January 15, so I have been somewhat remiss in advertising it.

This part of the series will focus on censorship in Ireland, 1700-2000. The speakers are looking at a range of topics relevant to the history of censorship in Ireland, including the impact of major developments in printing technology. Individual writers like Jonathan Swift and Kate O’Brien, whose works prompted controversies that resulted in works by them being banned, will also receive attention. The lectures are free to attend with each paper lasting an hour, including question time. Admission is free but, because there is a limited number of seats, it’s best to book in advance.